Publications in October 2011

The number of publications increased in October. So 144 articles about chitosan were released. Looking at the amount of publications the same countries as in September led the list.
Most publications came from China. In October 40 articles were published there. With 13 published articles India was in second place, followed by the USA with overall 11 publications.

Top Journals	Publications
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules	10
Biomacromolecules	9
Biomaterials	6
Analyst	5
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Science	5
International Journal of Pharmaceutics	5

Table: Journals with the most publications about chitosan and chitosan derivatives.

In the following passage three articles about antimicrobial effects of chitosan are introduced. In general, antimicrobial substances are used to inhibit or disable the infectious ability of microorganisms and their ability to multiply.

A physico-chemical and biological study of novel chitosan-chloroquinoline derivative for biomedical applications

S. Kumar, P. K. Dutta, J. Koh, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2011 Oct 1, 49 (3): 356-61

In the research of Kumar, Dutta and Koh a novel chitosan-chloroquinoline derivative was studied. This derivative might be promising as a novel antimicrobial agent for biomedical applications.

The derivative was prepared by an environmental friendly cross-linked technique. To form a hydrogel a chitosan solution in aqueous acid was treated with a 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde solution.

Objects of investigations among other things:

Object	Method
Morphology of the derivative	X-ray diffraction (XRD) +  Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Thermal stability	Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Antimicrobial activity	Microbial screening

The microbial screening showed an antimicrobial activity against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

Quelle: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

Antimicrobial edible films and coatings for fresh and minimally processed fruits and vegetables: a review

Valencia-Chamorro S. A., Palou L., DelRio M. A., Pérez-Gago M. B., Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Oct-Nov; 51 (9): 872-900

The use of edible coatings to extend the shelf-life of food products like fruits and vegetables is a promising and environmentally friendly technology. The addition of the coatings with antimicrobial compounds is a technology challenge and a very active field of research worldwide. So far polysaccharides or proteins such as starch, cellulose derivatives, alginate, fruit puree, soy protein, egg albumen, wheat gluten, sodium caseinate or chitosan were successfully added.

In the article of Valencia-Chamorro, Palou, Del Río und Pérez-Gago the effect of this antimicrobial coatings were studied.

Objects of investigations among other things:

• control of target microorganisms
• influence on mechanical and barrier properties of stand-alone edible films
• influence on the quality of fresh fruits and vegatables.

Quelle: US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health

Synergistic antimicrobial activities of natural essential oils with chitosan film.

Wang, Liu, Jiang, Chai, Li, Cheng, Jing, Kiel, J. Agric. Food Chem., Just Accepted Manuscript, Publication Date (Web): October 29, 2011

Subject of the study was the synergetic antimicrobial effect of three natural essential oils linked with chitosan to oil chitosan films.

The tested oils were:

• Clove bud oil
• Cinnamon oil and
• Star anise oil.

In comparison to clove bud oil and star anis oil, cinnamon oil showed the biggest antimicrobial effects against the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as against the fungi Aspergillus oryzae and Penicillium digitatum.

The used chitosan solution also showed good inhibitory effects against the named bacteria, except for fungi. By contrast the chitosan film did not show notable antimicrobial activities.

By testing the different oil chitosan films, the cinnamon chitosan film showed the best synergistic activities.

The synergistic effect was illustrated by increasing the antimicrobial activity of the oil. The effect is supposed to be associated with the constant oil release.

In regard to the film formation the cinnamon oil and chitosan were more compatible than chitosan and clove bud oil for example. It even came to a phase separation between chitosan and clove bud oil.

A further research result showed that the incorporated oils modified the mechanical strengths, water vapour transmission rate, moisture content and solubility of the chitosan film.

Quelle: Agriculture and Food Chemistry

Quelle: GoPubMed